Shopping districts seek new marketing strategies

Property owners in downtown Sarasota and St. Armands Circle are looking to shopping malls for inspiration on marketing vacant spaces in the commercial districts.

The Downtown Improvement District and St. Armands Business Improvement District have both discussed hiring an outside firm to promote available real estate in hopes of attracting quality tenants. The strategy calls for marketing each area as one unified destination — a tactic designed to get each district on the radar of businesses beyond the Sarasota area.